Something for the sweet tooth

            The church calendar says that the 6^th January is Epiphany, which celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child.  It is the 12^th day of Christmas, and the final days of Christmas.  So, if I were a person who celebrated the 12 days, today would be the last day.  So I guess that is the last day for eating Christmas food, treats while starting an increase of intake of carrots, celery, apples and lean meat! 

            Speaking of cake, I have developed the reputation at church for baking good cakes.  Recently three different people asked me to bake birthday cakes for after church service coffee time.  I’ve been glad to oblige. 

One of the recipes I found in my Granny’s recipe box.  Someone had asked for a lemon cake and I thought I’d seen a recipe I could use in either my mother’s or grandmothers’ recipe boxes.  As it turned out, there was lemon cake recipe that required a box cake mix and a packet of lemon flavoured gelatine.  Since that was an American recipe, I didn’t feel confident trying to make it as I am not familiar with the British equivalent of those products.  A felt a scratch recipe was best.  I came across a scratch cake recipe for Orange cake.  So, I want to share that with you.  

            Lemon Curd is very popular here in Great Britain.  I thought using curd, which has the consistency of pudding, would be a nice change from a powdered/icing sugar topping.  

Here is the link to the lemon curd recipe I used.  I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.  I bought five fresh lemons from the local green grocer.  Before I scraped the zest off, I put them into the microwave for about 30 seconds each.  This made them super easy to juice.  After squeezing five lemons, my rings were very clean and shiny!  A nice side benefit!  http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/24336/easy-lemon-curd.aspx

The orange cake recipe came from the back panel of a box of Swans Down Cake Flour.  I’m not sure how old the recipe is, because Swans Down Cake flour is a product that has been produced since 1894.   http://www.swansdown.com/site.php.  You can even buy this on-line--just Google Swans Down to find it in the UK. 

Orange Cake

2 ½ cups sifted Swans Down Cake Flour

2 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder

½ teaspoon Salt

¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ (4 oz.) cup butter or margarine*

2 teaspoons grated orange rind

1 ¼ cups sugar

2 eggs

3 Tablespoons milk*

¾ cup (6 oz.) orange juice

*or use vegetable shortening and increase milk to 1/3 cup

Method:

1)    Preheat oven to 375ºF/190ºC/Gas Mark 5.

2)    Grease and flour two 8-inch layer cake pans.  (I usually line the bottom with grease-proof paper to keep the bottom from sticking.  Sometimes it sticks even after being greased and floured.)  Set to side.

3)    In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4)    Cream butter with orange rind.  Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.

5)    Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.

6)    Add about one-fourth of the flour mixture and beat until smooth.

7)    Beat in milk.

8)    Add remaining flour mixture alternately with the orange juice, beating after each addition until smooth. 

9)    Pour into cake tins.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean.  Cool in pans 10 minutes.

10)   Removed from pan and finish cooling on racks.

11)   Frost/top as desired.

Maybe for her first birthday?

             

   The last week of June 2015 I was on the phone with “Chantilly.”  The conversation went something like this:  “Nana, you know what Phe-Phe asked me?” 

                “No.” I replied, going along with the pretence.  After all, “Princess Phe-Phe” was only a day or so old.  I figured the Mama would know what the little one would want and interpret for me.

                “She told me,” Chantilly continued.  (I could hear the smile in her voice.) “that she would like for you to crochet her a pink blanket.” 

                “Really?  Well, since she asked so nicely, how can I say no?”

                Unfortunately, I’ve been slow in getting this project done.  Although I wanted to get started straight away, it was August before I made it to the Haberdashery shop to buy yarn.  It took me a while to find a pattern on-line.  So now that now that Phe-Phe is six months old, I figure it’s time to move this project up on the priority list.  

                 The square on the right is what the finished block looks like.  After they are all that size, I will sew them together into a blanket.  

 

                The link to the pattern is here:  http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Baby-Afghan-Crochet-Patterns/Baby-Blocks-Blanket-from-Bernat

                 

                 After I bake an applesauce cake, I’m going to park on the couch and keep my crochet hook busy.  At the rate I'm going, it might be for her first birthday! 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,

“Lady Helene”

A bit of thought about resolutions

Sunset, Sunday, 3rd January 2016

Sunset from our balcony, Sunday, 3 January 2016

                The tradition of making resolutions at the beginning of a New Year is so common that I’ve just always accepted it as a part of our culture, without ever wondering about its origin.  The common acceptance that, even with the best of intentions, most people don’t keep them, makes the tradition at best, an amusing pastime, and at worst, another stick of accusation and shame with which to beat up one’s self.  

                As a teenager, I made resolutions only to disappoint myself with not following through.  I made resolutions based upon cultural and even seasonal expectations.  After a while, I realised that just because a society or a community held a certain expectation, it didn’t mean that I had to participate.  It was pointless to say something I did not mean.

 As my relationship with Jesus grew I began to pray about the things God wanted to do in my life for the year ahead.  If my spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth were areas that God wanted me to mature into, then I knew the Holy Spirit would be leading me.  Therefore, when I missed the mark, the Holy Spirit would either bring conviction for wrong choices or give encouragement for correct choices.  

With the New Year being still fresh, it is a good time to ask myself some questions:

•  What is a resolution?
•  What is the origin of New Year’s resolution?
•   Is it worth making a resolution? 
•   Is there a difference between making a resolution and setting a goal?

• What is a resolution?  This definition comes from the Cambridge on-line dictionary. 

1)   An official decision that is made after a group or organization has voted:  to approve/adopt a resolution [The United Nations passed(=voted to support) a resolution to increase aid to developing nations.]

2)      A promise to yourself to do or to not do something [Addie said she would never swear again.]

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/resolution

That is clear enough; a resolution is a promise, a decision that is made. 

                What is the origin of New Year’s resolution?   Apparently, making resolutions goes back to the time of the Babylonians, when they would promise to pay off debts and return borrowed items.  Often there was a religious association in the practice.  Romans would make pledges to the God, Janus, at the beginning of a new year.  Both Jewish and Christian believers took the time to prayerfully prepare for the new year by reflecting on their behaviour in the past and consider how to make restitution to others or/and make changes in their lifestyle.  Whether or not a person is a Christian, (or even religious)  the fundamental principle of making resolutions is that of becoming a better person.  For more information, you can look Wikipedia.  

• Is it worth making a resolution? 

Given that it is common knowledge that most people who make resolutions don’t keep them, it seems a fair question; is it worth making a promise for which there is a strong possibility it won’t be kept?  Several factors affect the making of a resolution:  circumstances, motivation, purpose and the person.  This question is a topic worthy of a separate blog post of its own.  So, I shall defer answering this question by saying, yes, no and maybe.  

• ·Is there a difference between making a resolution and setting a goal? 

A resolution is a promise made by an individual, a group or even a government.  A goal involves a set task with a timeline and plans explaining the steps required to accomplish the task.  So, it is certain that in order for resolutions to be kept, it requires thought as to the how and when it will be initiated and concluded.   In my opinion one can make a resolution without setting a goal.  And one can have goals to reach without making an official resolution.  But in order for a resolution to be kept, it requires creating a concrete agenda with appropriate instructions.  

There is a timeless and universal need in each one of us that desires to improve, and hopefully better the world we live in.  Therefore making resolutions is not a new concept or activity.  For some individuals it is an annual task, just part of the year-end “to-do” list.  You know, “Buy presents, cook the turkey, decorate the house, find child-minder for New Year ’s Eve and oh yes, make a resolution.”  But for other persons making a resolution is about taking stock of his/her life, seeing what changes he/she wants to make and then taking the time to plan it out and do it.  

So, how do I write between 185 and 200 blog posts this year?  A year is 365 days—and this is a leap year, so 366 days.  Divide that by 2 and we get 183 days.  Okay, set a goal to post a blog every-other-day.  Or, there are seven days in a week, and 52 weeks in the year.  If I assign myself the job of writing a blog on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays that becomes four times fifty-two (4 x 52) which equals 208 blog posts.  However, if I write one post three days a week that gives me 156 blogs.  

Maybe the next blog will be about “Is it worthwhile to make a resolution?”

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith!

“Lady Helene”

The Difference of One Letter

         Today marks the start of a new year.  Yet it is a day like any other day—laundry needs washing, food needs cooking, and the dog still needs taken out several times a day.  Since we live on the first floor (that’s 2^nd floor in America), it requires a trip down the stairs and a walk around the garden.  

 

The thing about a turning the page of a calendar--whether for a new month or a new year-- is that it is an opportunity to think about fresh starts.  I can’t help but challenge myself with the question, “What do I want to be different this year?”  Perhaps a preponderance to that challenge is: “What dreams have I not fulfilled and want to make progress with in the days ahead?” 

          A few weeks back I was on the bus going into town.  The traffic came to a stop at a traffic signal, and our bus was at an angle, as we were stopped on the roundabout.  In front of the bus was a panel van.  On the side of the van was an advert, which was partially obscured due to the angle the bus.  All I could see was part of the word “Drea___”.  In the classic “first thing that comes to mind” moment, my mind filled in the blank.  For some reason the letter “D” popped into my head—making the word “dread”.  The following second the letter “M” came to my mind—transforming the word into “Dream”.

          That was an eureka moment for me—the spelling of two words was separated in the difference of only one letter being different.  And the meaning of those words evoked two strong emotional responses.  

          Is my life guided by the empowerment of a dream; or is my life diminished by the anxiety of dread?  Do I pull the covers up over my head in the morning, wanting to go back to sleep and avoid the negative of life, dictated by fear?  Or do I wake up, my heart full of gratitude to the Lord for allowing me a new day to chase those opportunities and ideas He has given me?  

          In all honesty, both dread and dreams are sitting on my pillow when I hear the alarm each morning.  And some days it seems to be easier to make friends with dread than it does to choose dreams.  Yet, because the Holy Spirit lives in me, the power to choose to chase my dreams is stronger.  Why, because I know I am loved—loved by God, who chases away all fear.

          “In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgement [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as he is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror!  For fear brings with it the thought of punishment and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].”  I John 4:17-18

          Motivated by love I can believe that my dreams can come true.  Yet I know it requires practical planning and action.  I only dread the future if I have not considered what needs to be done and how to do it.  I will need to write it down, set some goals and work towards accomplishing them.  For example, in 2016 I would like to write and post between 183 and 200 blog entries.  That is at least one blog every other day.  So we shall see how that goes.  

          My hope and prayer for 2016  is on those days when dread shadows us, desiring our companionship, we will allow the love of God to sweep it aside; and that each of us will have the courage to take our dreams by the hand, walk with them, talk with them and see them become reality.